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Putin Points to Patriotic Russian Hackers as Possible Culprits

Putin Points to Patriotic Russian Hackers as Possible Culprits

Russian President Vladimir Putin denies nation-backed hacking but says patriotic hackers may be targeting countries that are at odds with his country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin today said patriotic Russian hackers may be responsible for some of the cyberattacks against countries that are at odds with the former Soviet Union, but he noted they are doing it on their own accord and not as a nation-sponsored campaign, according to a Reuters report.

Putin, addressing the media at an economic forum in St. Petersburg, responded to allegations that his country may find ways to interfere with Germany’s elections, similar to claims that Russia is facing in the US.

“If they (hackers) are patriotically minded, they start to make their own contribution to what they believe is the good fight against those who speak badly about Russia. Is that possible? Theoretically it is possible,” Putin stated, according to a Reuters report. He denied that his government was involved with hacking against other countries; Russia is fighting cyberattacks within its own country, he said.

Putin said he doubts hackers could materially change the outcome of an election in the US, Europe, or other countries.

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